Michelle Obama to S.F. Dems: Get out of town

Updated 8:07 pm, Friday, January 31, 2014

Joan Baez performs at Camp Winnarainbow's Sing Out at Sunset on Sunday in Kensington.

Joan Baez performs at Camp Winnarainbow's Sing Out at Sunset on Sunday in Kensington.

Photo: John Sciulli, Getty Images For CBS Films

Michelle Obama to S.F. Dems: Get out of town

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In her second day of fundraising in San Francisco, Michelle Obama urged a sellout crowd of supporters to get out of their comfort zone and campaign in swing areas of the country during midterm elections in which she said the stakes "simply could not be higher."

"Leave San Francisco. Leave this bastion," she told 600 donors and other backers at the Fairmont hotel Friday. "Go out into the wilderness, and roll up your sleeves.

"I'm also going to be straight with you," the first lady said. "Most districts in this country are not like San Francisco. ... We have a lot of tight races in other parts of California and all across the country. And every single one of these seats matters."

Donors who paid the highest amount received a photo with the first lady, two tickets to a VIP reception and a table of 10 to lunch. Donors at the $10,000 level also received photos with the first lady and lunch tickets.

But it was clear from the enthusiastic reception that the first lady was the real draw.

The turnout dramatized how, with the president's poll numbers at a record low and much of the Democratic base lacking in energy, "the first lady's ability to fundraise will be important - probably more than (President) Obama's," said Alison Howard, political science professor at Dominican University in San Rafael. "She can draw more people."

Her appearance Friday with Pelosi came at a time when the top House Democrat is "losing some of her very, very strong allies," Howard said, noting the impending retirements of Reps. George Miller of Martinez and Henry Waxman of Los Angeles.

Although Democrats' chances of retaking the House in November look slim, Howard said Democrats can still pick up some GOP seats in California, such as the San Joaquin Valley district now represented by a vulnerable freshman, Rep. David Valadao of Hanford (Kings County).

"If the Democrats can raise enough money, they could have a better chance at pickups," Howard said.